Redbrick Haven
The imagery of the red brick buildings and the Maple Bar apartment represents familiarity in the lives of the characters. Harriet asserts, "A street downtown lined in old redbrick buildings. An apartment over the Maple Bar, our favorite coffee shop, for our junior year…The city is gorgeous, of course, all that old stone and ivy blending seamlessly into sleek steel and glass... imagining the seasons passing outside Parth, Cleo, Sabrina, and Mystery Roommate’s bay window, the heaps of snow melting away to reveal a quilt of springy pale green and bursts of trout lily, wild geranium, bishop’s-cap." The juxtaposition of old stone and ivy with sleek steel and glass represents the contrast between tradition and modernity. This blend mirrors the characters' journeys—balancing their experiences with discoveries. The visual description of the changing seasons through the bay window captures the passage of time and the evolving relationships of the characters.
Contradictory Luxe
Harriet states, "A beautiful, amazing, nightmarish disaster…This room is pure luxury…However, if I could make one minor interior design suggestion, it would be to put one or both of the aforementioned amenities behind a door. As it stands, they’re out in the open... All this to say, I spend my fifteen minutes of 'relaxation' taking a private shower while I can…Another solar flare–bright memory: Wyn and me lying in bed, lamplight spilling over us, his hair a mess, that one obstinate lock on his forehead. His mouth presses to the curve of my belly, then the crease of my hip. He whispers against all my softest parts, Perfect." While the setting exudes opulence, its lack of privacy and boundaries contrasts with her emotional state. Harriet's memories of intimacy with Wyn add depth to her internal conflict. This imagery reflects her desire to keep up a façade of normalcy despite the turmoil of her unresolved emotions.
Turbulent Tempests
The vivid description of the environment at Bernie’s diner conveys a sense of discomfort: "But by the time we get downtown to the red-shingled greasy spoon, the storm has blown back in. In the span of our run from the car to the front doors, we get soaked. We score a table at the back, where the windows look out on the faded gray patio, the striped umbrellas shut tight and wobbling in the wind, lightning streaking down to touch the waves in the distance... Bernie’s is packed with summer visitors like us, here for the Lobster Festival’s grand opening tonight, and the locals having their morning cups of coffee and reading the Knott’s Harbor Register." The description of the storm and the lightning streaking down to touch the waves signifies an atmosphere of turbulence. Moreover, the division between the summer visitors and the locals within Bernie's diner emphasizes the tension among the group.
Emotional Landscapes
The conversation between Harriet and Wyn is filled with vivid emotional imagery that illustrates their past and present feelings. Harriet states, "That stings, somewhere deep beneath my breastbone. I try again, feebly, to draw back. Wyn’s hand moves to the back of my neck, light, careful.” The conversation is rich with emotional descriptions that are tied to physical sensations. Harriet feels a sharp pang beneath her breastbone when Wyn reveals his feelings. Wyn's confession about feeling lost before meeting Harriet vividly portrays the transformative power of love. His words create a visual image of finding direction amid chaos.
